On Friday, November 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year (CY) 2020 final rules for the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Quality Payment Program, which includes several significant policy and payment changes impacting our U.S.-based members.
A new echo technology achieved CPT editorial panel category 1 status for the first time in decades! The new Myocardial Strain Imaging CPT Code +93356 recognizes that strain imaging has a great diagnostic and therapeutic value for improving patient care. Thank you to all the ASE members who helped document their use of myocardial strain imaging in an effort to gain this new CPT Code that can be used beginning January 1, 2020.
There will be a slight increase in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) conversion factor. The CY 2020 PFS conversion factor was finalized at $36.09, a slight increase above the CY 2019 PFS conversion factor of $36.04.
A topline summary of the most important changes to the payment rates and policies for services paid under Medicare is available online. ASE is currently reviewing the details of the final rules and will be providing comments for those items that remain open for comment. We will keep you updated as we learn more. In the meantime, the proposed rules are available at:
MPFS Rule Text: Final Rule CMS Fact Sheet
OPPS Rule Text: Final Rule CMS Fact Sheet
For more information visit the Advocacy web page. If you have any questions please email Irene Butler, Vice President of Health Policy at IButler@ASEcho.org.